Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABAKALIKI, Nigeria – Suspected armed robbers invaded the hostel of the Ebonyi State College of Health Science and Technology in Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 9, 2026, leaving at least seven students injured before escaping with phones, laptops and other valuables. The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for improved security on school campuses across the state.
According to the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, the gunmen stormed the students’ hostel at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday, breaking into rooms and dispossessing students of their belongings. He confirmed that the attack occurred at the College of Health Science and Technology, Ngbo, and that the victims are currently receiving medical attention. Ukandu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on Wednesday, June 10, said the gunmen invaded the students’ hostels and made away with mobile phones and power banks. According to him, about seven students sustained varying degrees of injuries during the encounter with the gunmen.
Sources said the hostel lacked any perimeter fencing or security post, making it an easy target for the attackers, who reportedly escaped into a nearby bush before police operatives arrived at the scene. An unnamed student, speaking to The Sun, said: “Our hostel was attacked by gunmen and they injured many students in the hostel and stole their belongings. Some of the victims are receiving treatment in the General Hospital here in the local government, while others are receiving treatment in a private hospital”. The student added that many of his colleagues were “parking out of the hostel because of this incident”. The assailants reportedly beat the students and made off with phones, power banks, laptops and other personal effects.
Ukandu acknowledged the security lapse, stating: “The school is very porous and has no fence; you can see it if you go there. From what I heard, the school has no even normal security guard(s). But we are on the matter and investigation is ongoing”. The police spokesperson disclosed that operatives were immediately deployed after a distress call was received, but by the time they arrived, the attackers had already fled. He assured that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, and that the command was committed to ensuring the safety of residents and students alike. He also urged the people of Ebonyi to provide useful information that could assist in tracking down the suspects.
As of Wednesday evening, the management of the College of Health Science and Technology had yet to issue an official statement on the attack. The violent incident has sparked widespread concern regarding the safety of students living within the area, with many calling on local authorities and security agencies to intervene immediately. The attack has further heightened tension in a state already reeling from rising insecurity.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of educational institutions in Nigeria's rural areas, where many school hostels remain unfenced and unguarded despite repeated calls by authorities for enhanced security measures. As police continue their manhunt, the wounded students are being treated in hospitals within the local government area, their conditions still unknown to the public.
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